Since its inception nine years ago, the PMI Pearl City Chapter (PMIPCC) has taken up several initiatives for community development. On 3 February, the chapter hosted an exciting mega event as part of its community development program. The Student Leadership Competency Building (SLCB) initiative, a movement unveiled in the year 2005, has progressively grown in outreach and momentum. SLCB was the brainchild of chapter thought leaders, Mr. V Srinivasa Rao, ex-president, PMIPCC and past-chairman of PMI Team India, and Mr. A Suresh Chandra, president, PMIPCC.

 

This year, the SLCB activities culminated into the Gyan Lahari Student Leadership Conference and International Student Leadership Day (ISLD). The event was held at Shilpakala Vedika, Hyderabad, and about 2,000 delegates, including 1700+ students, corporate, parents, teachers, academicians,and government representatives attended it. The main focus was on students, who had come from urban, rural, and tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh and around.

At the event, Mr. Suresh Chandra, outlined the plans for building an ecosystem to generate thousands of leaders from the student community. He described India as a ‘happening country’ and encouraged its young citizens in the audience to participate in this nation-building movement and prepare themselves for the future.

 

Mr. V Srinivasa Rao emphasized the four As: aspiration, attitude, ability, and action that are necessary to improve our quality of life.

Professor V. H. Iyer, dean, Welingkar University of Management, was the keynote speaker at the event. Prof. Iyer spoke about the ‘Role of Industry, Government and Academia to Build World-class Leaders.’ In his address, he encouraged students to take charge of their future and build an India free of poverty and corruption, disaster, and disease.

This was followed by an enlightening panel discussion with eminent representatives from the government, academic, and corporate. Dr. Lakshminarayana, IAS, Department of Technical Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Velury Pardhasaradhy, executive vice president, human resources, Indu Projects, and Mr. Pratap Reddy, chairman, Dhruva College of Management were the panelists. The topic for discussion was ‘Building Industry Ready and Nation Ready Leaders from Academia—Challenges and Solutions.’ Each of the panelists gave an insight on industry viewpoints on industry-academia partnership, the gaps that exist, and ways to bridge the same. They also encouraged students to work towards the common goal of making India a developed nation.

 

Subsequently, students from the SLCB participating institutions showcased the power of leadership through innovative skits and speeches. There were excellent speeches on leadership in Telugu and English and a skit showcasing the evils that plague society and which directly affect students—juvenile delinquency, child labor, and alcoholism.

In his valedictory address, Mr. Sathyavenkatesh, director, ISLD, mentioned that project management plays a vital role in an individual’s life and any activity taken up without it results in chaos.

The event which was completely executed and supported by volunteers—national and international students, PMIPCC members, and non-members—also served as a learning exercise in project management for organizers.